The Visit to Japan of Mr. Felipe Ramon Perez Roque Minister of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Cuba
(Outline and Evaluation)

7 March 2001

Mr. Felipe Ramon Perez Roque Minister of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Cuba, paid an official visit to Japan from 3 to 6 March as Guest of the Foreign Minister of Japan. The following is an outline and evaluation of that visit (schedule and personal history attached separately).

1. Outline

(1) Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori

  • Foreign Relations Minister Perez delivered an official letter from President Fidel Castro of the Republic of Cuba addressed to Prime Minister Mori inviting him to visit Cuba and expressing Cuba's high regard of its relations with Japan.

(2) Meeting and Working Dinner with Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono

  • Foreign Relations Minister Perez extended a firm invitation to Foreign Minister Kono to visit Cuba.
  • Foreign Minister Kono conveyed the message that Japan would be implementing grass-roots grant aid, as joint assistance cooperation between Japan and Cuba, to a hospital in Honduras in which Cuban doctors are working.
  • In addition, the two foreign ministers had a lively and frank exchange of views on a range of matters including bilateral relations in general, the promotion of tourism, economic cooperation with Cuba, cultural and sports exchanges (including heightening interest in Japan of Cuban culture and music), Cuba's domestic situation (including human rights issues) and United States-Cuba relations.

(3) Talks with People from Political and Business Circles

Foreign Relations Minister Perez met and had talks with Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Ryutaro Hashimoto, Minister of Justice Masahiko Koumura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yoshitaka Sakurada (the four of whom Foreign Relations Minister Perez invited to visit Cuba), Speaker of the House of Representatives Tamisuke Watanuki, President of the Japan-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship League, Hiroshi Mitsuzuka, and others. He also had an exchange of views with representatives from Japanese economic circles, including the President of the Japan-Cuba Economic Conference and former President of Nissho Iwai, Masatake Kusamichi.

(4) Enhanced Schedule

  • Foreign Relations Minister Perez also had an exchange of views with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Kunihiko Saito, visited the NEC Internet Showroom, gave a lecture on "Cuban Foreign Policy," visited Kyoto, and met and had talks with academics and intellectuals (including the President of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Yoshikazu Morita, Professor Yuzo Kamo of Aoyama Gakuin University, and journalist and newscaster, Jiro Ishikawa).

2. Significance and Evaluation of Foreign Relations Minister Perez's Visit to Japan

(1) Building Far-reaching and Close Relations with Important Figures of Cuban

Foreign Relations Minister Perez is President Castro's closest aide. Through the official visits to Japan of Vice-President of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, Carlos Lage Davila in October and President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Ricardo Alarcon Quesada, in November, and the current visit to Japan by Foreign Relations Minister Felipe Perez, Japan has built far-reaching and close relations with many of the leading candidates for the Post-Castro generation. Arguably no other developed country has implemented as many official visits of Cuban important figures in the space of half a year as Japan. This approach is based on Japan's active engagement policy toward Cuba in order to "expose Cuba to outside air."

(2) Invitation to Japanese Cabinet Members to Visit Cuba

Although the visit to Cuba of Speaker of the House of Representatives Tamisuke Watanuki (the first official visit to Cuba as head of the three separated powers of Japan (of administration, legislation and judicature)) only took place in January this year, Foreign Relations Minister Perez subsequently invited Prime Minister Mori, Foreign Minister Kono, State Minister for Administrative Reform Hashimoto, Justice Minister Koumura and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiranuma. These members of the Japanese Cabinet are strongly hoped to visit Cuba.

(3) Realization of Japan-Cuba Joint Aid Cooperation

Thus far, there have been firm expectations from the Cuban side of joint aid cooperation with Japan in the field of medicine. Foreign Minister Kono articulated the implementation of joint aid cooperation in the Republic of Honduras, as the first experience of joint cooperation between the two countries. Foreign Relations Minister Perez evaluated this highly, remarking that he would like to work toward rendering this cooperation significant.

(4) The State of Human Rights in Cuba and a Lively Exchange of Views on US-Cuba Relations

Foreign Minister Kono noted that visible improvement on the human rights front would also undoubtedly result in a heightening of Japanese interest in Cuba. In response, Foreign Relations Minister Perez commented that even if Japan adopts a position of agreement with the Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Cuba at the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, this would not impact on their bilateral relations, and he remarked further that he would like to discuss about human rights issues with the Japanese side, paying respects to each other.

(5) US-Cuba Relations

Foreign Relations Minister Perez noted that he was hoping for the normalization of relations with the United States and that progress made with Japan-Cuba relations would undoubtedly contribute to US-Cuba relations too. Stating that he considered striving to resolve current issues within one's own generation the mission of a politician, Foreign Minister Kono conveyed anticipation toward a swift improvement in US-Cuban relations.

(6) Enhanced Schedule and the Building of Human Relations Through Hospitality

Deepening friendly relations with those involved in wide-ranging fields, including people from political, business and academic circles as well as journalists, and experiencing Japanese culture has enabled Foreign Relations Minister Perez, who will be a leading figure in the post-Castro era, to build a sense of affinity with Japan and personal relations with Japanese dignitaries.


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